Melanie S.

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Wow almost 10 years, I can't believe it.  I am now at my lowest weight I have been since I was probably a preteen.  I currently weigh 168.  I am still working on my goal of 145 but have held steady at about 175-180 for several years so I am happy with that.  

It is hard to believe that it has been 9 years since I had WLS.  So much has happened and most of the time I forget that I had the surgery.  I don't regret my decision to have WLS and never will.  I do regret not getting to my ultimate goal but I am more motivated now and not sick.  I likely would have gotten to my goal sooner had I not gotten a bleeding ulcer a few years after my WLS which drained me of all energy but showed no other symptoms.  Due to that and not absorbing iron, I do have to get iron infusions every year but that is not a big deal.  
I met my husband in May 2007 and married him in September 2008. I love him so much and he knows all about my surgery and my life before then.  In Jaunary 2010, we welcomed our daughter Eliza into our lives and in May 2011, we welcomed baby sister Vivien.  My girls are perfect, if not slightly overweight despite eating everything.  
I hope that whereever you are in your journey, you are happy and able to see the good in you. 

Well,
It has been 5.5 years since I had WLS.  I am now 30, married, and enjoying life.  Not that I did not enjoy life before but now I am having lots of fun.  I now weigh about 180 (I gained 20 pounds after getting on birth control about 1.5 years ago).  I got married to Michael, the love of my life on September 13, 2008.  For our wedding gifts to each other, we bought bikes and trust me, we spent more on them than most people spend on their gifts to each other.  I have to admit that you can just start riding a bike like you never forgot but it HURTS. 

I am 25 years old, single, and have had weight problems from the time that I was 10. I am 5'6", weigh 297, and BMI 48. I am a Grad student at UT-Arlington. I have been looking into this surgery for awhile now. My aunt had Gastric Bypass Surgery in May 2001 and a cousin had the LapBand done in September 2002. I have had several other friends who have also had the surgery. My family and friends are very supportive
1-7-2003
My 25th birthday is next week and I have to do something about my weight. I called and made an appointment with Dr. Capehart

1-29-2003
My appointment with the Dr. Capehart today. My Aunt Susie and Grannie went with me (mom had to work and will need time off for my surgery). Dr. Capehart was really nice and we all liked her very much. I had about 30 questions that I wanted to know and she answered most of them before I asked.

2-11-2003
My paperwork was sent to the insurance today (I had to get some additional info to the doctor for the insurance

2-19-2003
I called insurance and talked to my precert nurse and she said she had to ask my doctor a question but that she wanted to get this decided by the end of the week and that she would call me

2-21-2003
I called my mom at home and she told me to call her back on her cell phone. She let me listen to the messages and I HAVE APPROVAL FOR GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY!!!!! I am so excited I cried in the middle of my office. I will call on Monday and schedule a date
2-27-2003
I am still waiting on confirmation of my surgery date. We have had some bad weather here in the DFW Metroplex and everything (almost) is shut down. I am looking at the end of April for surgery. I could not do it any sooner due to my school schedule

3-06-2003
Time is standing still and going slower.  My doctor's nurse (Linda) called last Friday and said 'What about April 8?,' and that she would have to check with Dr. Capehart to see if she would do it becuase she has a surgery scheduled on the 7th.  At first I said to check on the 21st or 22nd, due to my school schedule, but then I talked to my mom and she showed me how my schedule would actually work better with the 8th.  So I called Linda back and told her I really wanted April 8.  I AM STILL WAITING!!! I carry my cell phone around everywhere and keep praying for patience, it is hard

3-06-2003 PM
I called Linda and she was like Well it isn't going to be on the 8th becuase there is not a 4 hour block available for surgery!--she did not even sound like she was going to call me.  Of course I got a little emotional and pulled out my calendar and said Ok when does it look like it may be?  April 21st or 22nd or May 12th.  OH MY LORD!!!! I cannot do it in May.  So I asked her to check out the first 2 dates.  I called her later and apologized if I sounded upset and then found out that she had not been looking at both of the hospitals that my doctor works at.  I told her that I have heard good things about both hospitals and would like either.  I then gave her my cell phone because I am going out of town later in the week

3-10-2003
I am so upset that I could spit nails.  I have been praying all day "Lord let Linda call with the 8th, Lord let Linda call with the 8th"  I called just at 4:15 to check the progress for my date and heard the recording.  Last Thursday when I talked to Linda about her calling me back on my cell phone she did not mention that the office would be closed for vacation.  (This may be too much info. but I am going to start my period any day now and I have a test tomorrow and since I am at school I came to the computer lab and the stupid thing would not let me log on.  And did I mention that I am GOING TO START MY PERIOD!!!!!!!!)  I had my insurance approval 10 days from the time it was sent in and I have now been waiting 17 days to just get a stupid surgery date

3-18-2003
First of all, let me apologize for my PMSing last week.  I was studying for a test and then found out it would be another week to find out my surgery date.  Now let me say I GOT A SURGERY DATE!!!!!!! APRIL 22nd.  I am excited even though I had been hoping for April 8th (Linda told me that she and the surgery office had been really close to getting it but then found out that Dr. Capehart was doing something with another doctor for 5 hours rather than the 2 she thought it was).  But I HAVE A DATE, ONLY 35 DAYS AWAY!!!

3-24-2003
Let me just say that I am still so excited about my surgery date.  I also can't wait until next wednesday because I am going to the "Belly Busters" support group.  I didn't get to go last month because I was telling my friends about my surgery plans and could not change.  My mom and aunt are also going to go.  I am so excited.  But on to other things.  I got an invitation in the mail to the wedding of a girl my brother used to "date" when he was about 12.  She is 4 years younger than me.  I don't want to get married at this time but everytime I find out that a friend of mine or more especially of my brothers is married or getting married, I get bummed.  My brother is four years younger than me and is getting married this summer.  When he and his fiancee started dating four years ago, we just knew that they would eventually get married.  I told them that if they got married before I do, I would just have to shoot myself.  Now I wonder was I really joking, I think as it gets closer to June, I get more depressed about the whole thing.  I mean I am the oldest, aren't I supposed to get married first???  Oh well, my time is coming, and besides do I really want to look back at wedding pictures of me wearing a size 24 wedding dress? NO of course not

3-25-2003
I got an Angel!  Her name is Rhonda Williams and she actually lives maybe a mile from me.  She is about 9 months postop and she is doing really good.  We talked yesterday and she seemed as excited as me about this whole Angel thing.  I really enjoyed talking to her and feel that both of us are going to learn a lot from this experience.  I just wanted to let everyone know about my Angel

4-04-2003
17 days and a wake up. I am getting more and more excited. Things are just going along. I have several things I have to do for school and that is stressing me out. I left work a little early yesterday because of a migraine. Luckily that only happens once or twice a year.

4-07-2003
I am so excited, I got to work and had an email from Donna telling me that my profile was fixed up.  It is so cute.  Thank you very much Donna!

4-10-2003
Today I got a call from Linda (Doctor's secretary)and my surgery has been moved from Methodist to Doctor's Hospital and will be at 9AM instead of 8:30.  Linda said that Dr. Capehart is having her move all the gastric bypasses from Methodist to Doctor's.  Considering that I was scared to death that the call would be to cancel the surgery all together.  Anyway only 11 days and a wake up.  I can't wait becuase I can't sleep right now.  Till later.

4-17-2003
Four days and a wake up.  I am getting excited.  I still have a 10 page paper to write by Friday, hopefully, and still have to clean the house, but other than that things are done and ready.  I am trying to post some pictures.  We'll see if I am smart enough to figure it out.  Meanwhile, I will put a link to my picturetrail.  Till later

4-29-2003
Okay I am one week post op and still feeling a little sore.  I hate television because of all of the food commercials.  I am craving everything. lol.  I had a great experience at the hospital, on the morning of the 24th I accidently pulled my IV out so I lost my best friend (morphine).  I also had a little crying spell on Friday evening (I came home Friday afternoon) when my pain meds wore off.  I will update more later.

5-03-2003
Well, I am almost 2 weeks post op and I am feeling pretty good.  I have not had any puking (knock on wood) but have had diarriah (bad spelling) for about a week.  My 2 week post op appointment will be on Tuesday evening.  I have to admit that I did get on the scale because I was feeling sorry for myself about not getting to eat.  So let me not keep you guys in suspense, I have lost about 21 pounds in 11 days.  YEAHHHH!!!!

5-22-03
Well today I am 1 month post-op.  I have lost 30 pounds so far.  I am feeling pretty good except for it feels like someone decided to use me as a punching bag.  My ribs hurt and so does my abdominal muscles.  It was just little twinges when I would get up in the morning but on Tuesday it started hurting worse so I will be calling the doctor later today to make sure this is normal (probably the muscles healing) and what I can take for it.
  My younger brother and his fiance had their wedding shower last Saturday, they will be getting married on June 14th.  I would love to lose about 30 more pounds by then.  I will work hard.  Already my BMI has gone down about 6 points, which is amazing to me.  Cloths are fitting looser, which is great.  I have only thrown up once and that was because I had such a bad headache and threw up my tylenol.  I do not regret my decision at all.  I have not been tempted to eat anything that I am not supposed to. 
  I only have today and tomorrow left on my current job.  Next Tuesday I start my final internship towards my Masters Degree.  I will be going to the Child Protective Services Academy.  I will probably start working at CPS in September.
6-5-2003--Well today was my week checkup.  I have lost 35 pounds (37 according to home scale).  I have joined Wetworks (water aerobics) and Dr. C said that she has found that patients who do water exercise seem to lose the excess skin better.  Well, please pray for my mom.  She has applied for approval for surgery with Dr. C but Aetna has new guidelines and she does not have 2 years of "Doctor Supervised Diets" I am praying that she gets approved anyway, she needs this surgery worse than I did.  Well I started my last semester of Grad School.  I have to write a 25 page paper ASAP.  I am also starting my training towards Child Protective Services.  LIfe is going good and I will update later. 

6-15-2003
Well, yesterday my younger brother married the girl of his dreams.  It was so exciting to look at my brother and think "Wow look at the love in his eyes."  For a moment I thought that he was going to run down the aisle and grab her hand to hurry her up.  Anyway a lot of family were in town and haven't seen me since I had surgery.  I received a lot of compliments.  I am so excited about my weight loss (42 pounds and about 17 inches) but no one told me that when you are "FAT FAT" it doesn't really matter if your clothes are baggy but lose some weight and clothes have to fit just right (or maybe that is just according to my mom and Grannie who say that).  Oh well it is exciting to put on clothes and know that they are big on you.  The jeans that I am wearing on my picture are getting pretty baggy and it is so wierd to have my pants move around when I am walking.  Well I have to get going.  Until later.

08-07-2003
Well, I am now about 3 1/2 months out and have lost 64 pounds and about 40 inches.  I have not updated in a while because we don't have the internet at home right now and I have not been able to get online anywhere else.  Everything is still going really well.  I have not had any complications from surgery and people are really starting to notice the weight loss.  I finished the CPS academy yesterday and am now waiting to find out where I will be working.  I will receive my Masters' Degree on August 16th.  I can't wait.  Well not much else is going on.  Until later. 

10-18-2003
Well, I am finally back online and able to update.  My family has moved into a new house and I have started a new job.  My weight loss is steadily going on and I am about 5 days away from my 6 month mark.  I have lost 92 pounds so far and weigh 209.  I have my 6 month check up on October 27th and I am hoping to have lost 100 by then.  I am wearing size 16W for the most part or XL.  I was informed that there is a difference between 1X and XL (I guess I never knew).  I am  enjoying my new job even though I feel like I never get anything done.  Now that I am back online I will try to update more often.  If anyone has any questions please feel free to email me. Until later.

11-26-03
Well, today is the day before Thanksgiving and I want to give Thanks.  I am so thankful that I was able to have this surgery.  As of this morning, I weigh 197.  Last night I tried on a size 14 dress that belonged to my cousin (she cannot wear it anymore, too small for her) anyway, IT FIT ME (and it was a little big).  I have never been smaller than my cousin.  This is just crazy.  I am thankful that I am done with school and thankful for my job and family, even if both drive me crazy sometimes.  Have a good Holiday and Happy Losing.

01-10-04
This morning I weighed in at 183.  I AM OVERWEIGHT!!!  It is so funny to be excited about this but I am.  I have 41 lbs to the goal I have set for myself.  I am able to wear size 14 jeans and things are going great.  I will update later with more information.  Til later.

2/23/04
I have not updated in a couple of weeks.  I am now down to about 175 and wearing a size 12 or 14.  I have cut my hair again and highlighted it to make my blonde look like the sun has helped it a little.  I joined the gym two weeks ago and have gone almost every weekday morning since then.  I have an appointment with the trainer to get a workout routine set up so that I can work on my trouble areas.  Life is interesting.  I am not as busy as some people say they become.  I am still having a problem with men my age noticing me or talking to me.  I have received plenty of compliments from men who are married and my father's age but have not been approached by men my age.  It is so bad that my grandmother is trying to set me up with a guy from her church.  I have given her permission to try but doubt that anything will come of it.  Oh well, things will happen when they are supposed to happen.  Till later.

7/29/04
Well it looks like I have become an infrequent updater.  Sorry about that.  Things have been going fine on the weight front.  I am at 165 and have not lost weight in about a month although I have not done anything conducive to losing weight.  I have not gone to the gym in about a month and have stopped drinking my protein again.  I watch what I eat still and try not to eat things that are bad although I do not follow a strict or rigid eating plan.  My job has been really bad lately and I wonder sometimes why I continue with it.  I just keep saying Things have to get better.  I still continue to go to a support group one or two times a month because I enjoy talking to other people who have had the surgery.  I hope that things continue to go well for everyone reading this.  Till later.

1/18/05
Well I have not updated this in a long time.  I'm sorry.  I am now 153 pounds with a "NORMAL" BMI.  I am wearing a size 10/12 but need to go shopping.  I had plastic surgery (bracioplasty and upper thigh lift with Dr. Kasden on 12/17/04.  I am healing nicely I think.  I am now 27 but not dating.  It will happen eventually.  If anyone has any questions that they would like to ask, feel free to email me.  I will try to update more sooner.